[Joseph Fielding Smith] Your letter addressed to the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was referred to me as the historian for answer.

You desire to know what the Urim and Thummim were, how they were used, and what became of them after the translation of the Book of Mormon.

The Urim and Thummim obtained from Moroni were two transparent stones set in silver bows and these stones fastened to a breastplate constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim. It was by the aid of these and by the power of the Lord that Joseph Smith was able to translate the ancient characters from the record and give to the world the Book of Mormon. In making the translation the breastplate was adjusted over the breast with the two stones attached in such a way that they could be held before the eyes. Jut how the characters appeared or how the translation was received by aid of these stones the Prophet Joseph Smith has not told us. All that we have on record that he did say is that he translated the ancient record by the aid of the Urim and Thummim and by the gift and power of God. When he finished the translation it is understood that he returned the Urim and Thummim with the plats to the angel who placed them in his hands.

The Urim and Thummim and breastplate were in the possession of Aaron, who was called to act as the presiding high priest of the order of Aaron, before the congregations of Israel. These stones with the breastplate were handed down from generation to generation in the lineage of the priests, successors to Aaron, until the time came when, through in and apostasy, they were lost to the people of Israel. For references see Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:8, Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8, I Samuel 28:5, Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65. Revelations were frequently received through the Urim and Thummim in those ancient times.

It was revealed to Joseph Smith, while he was translating the Book of Abraham, that Abraham had the Urim and Thummim by which the heavens were opened to his view and many things were made known in prophetic vision concerning Gospel truth and the destiny of his posterity.

The Urim and Thummim give to Joseph Smith were those which were received by the brother of Jared from the Lord the account of which is recorded in the third chapter of the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. After the destruction of the people of Jared these stones, called 'interpreters,' were preserved in the hands of the Nephites, finally being placed in the tone box with the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. It was Moroni who hid up these plates and the Urim and Thummim, about 420 A.D., and as the custodian of these sacred things, was sent, after he had received his resurrection from the dead, to Joseph Smith the Prophet and revealed to him where the plates were buried and gave him instruction in relation to the coming forth of the history of the ancient peoples of this western hemisphere.

[Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Letter to Ellsworth McCarthy, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[George F. Richards] Had a good heart to heart talk about the action taken by the Church relative to the discontinuance of plural marriages and the disregard given to that action by some. I warned her [his mother, or sister] against her daughters being inviegaled [sic] into the meshes, stating that all such were liable to be dealt with and to be excommunicated.

I spent about an hour with Pres[ident]. F[rancis]. M. Lyman at his home in the evening in considering the matter spoken of above.

[Joseph Smith] 30th Sabbath evening, November 30th 1834 While reflecting upon the goodness and mercy of the Lord, this evening, a prophecy was put into our hearts, that in a short time the Lord would arrange his providences in a merciful manner and send us assistance to deliver us from debt and bondage.

The Tabernacle Choir received a Grammy award for its recording of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the first television awards show of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, Calif.

[First Presidency Letter] We hereby approve the Twelve's recommendation in letter of September 29, that a definite time be fixed for the ordaining of Priests to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that this age of 19, thus affording Elders the privilege of two years of training and experience before they become eligible for ordination to the office of Seventy.

We also authorize the adoption of the following schedule, as submitted in your letter above referred to, for advancement in the Aaronic Priesthood:

Three years experience and training for the Deacons'12, 13, 14;

Two years experience and training for the Teachers'15 and 16;

Two years experience and training for the Priests'17 and 18.

[Source: First Presidency, Letter to Rudger Clawson, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Patriarchal Blessing of Lucy M. Smith] ...Thou art ... a lawful heir to the priesthood which was sealed upon the head of Ephraim. ... The number of thy years shall be according to thy faith, even to behold all the glory and beauty of Zion, see the coming of the Saviour, the gathering of Israel, and if you desire it with your whole heart, shall not taste of death, but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye and caught up to meet the Lord. Now dear sister be comforted, endure in faith to the end, and not one word which has been spoken shall fail.

U.S. president Martin Van Buren tells Joseph Smith in a personal meeting that the federal government cannot intervene to protect Mormon property or civil rights in Missouri. In 1833 the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in the Barrow case that the Bill of Rights restrained only the federal government. Until the Civil War and the 14th Amendment the constitutional separation between the federal government and the rights of sovereign states prohibited such intervention. This is also the first meeting between a U.S. president and an LDS president.

[Joseph Smith Diary] Joseph and Oliver give thanks for a loan of $430 from brethren in the East. They covenant with the Lord that if he will prosper us in our business and open the way before <us> ... to pay our debts ... that of all he shall give us we will give a tenth, to bestowed upon the poor in his Church, or as he shall command ... and that our children after us shall remember to observe this sacred and holy covenant ... And that our children and our children's [children] may know of the same we here subscribe our names with our own hands before the Lord: [signed].

Elder Charles A. Callis of the Council of the Twelve recently received a letter from Patriarch James H. Wallis, relative to a family residing in your mission, who are desirous of receiving their patriarchal blessings, but Brother Wallis says that the woman has colored blood in her veins, although neither she nor her husband is aware of this fact.

In Elder Callis' reply, which we fully endorse, he suggested that Brother Wallis excuse himself from giving these people blessing, but that under no circumstances should he intimate to them or any one else that the woman has colored blood. The consequences of s doing might be very serious, and it is almost an impossibility to prove a thing of this kind.

No doubt Brother Wallis has shown you Elder Callis' letter or informed you of its contents, but in case he has not done so we are desirous that you too should be informed of our attitude regarding such cases.

[Source: First Presidency, Letter to John V. Bluth, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

President Brigham Young organizes the Young Ladies' Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association, which paves the way for the later creation of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association in the 1870s.

Patriarchs should not give blessings to people other than those residing within the Stake where they have been properly sustained, unless special authorization be obtained from the Presidency of the Church.

[Source: First Presidency, Letter to Don B. Colton, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

During a gun battle between FBI agents and gangster George "Baby Face" Nelson, Inspector Samuel P. Cowley, the first LDS agent in the FBI and the head of the antigangster unit, is mortally wounded. Cowley continues firing his weapon as he falls to the ground and kills Nelson. Cowley died the following day.

The Authorities of the Church have always advised the people against card games, that is, cards of the kind that are used by gamblers and others, with ace, king, jack, queen, etc. Your relief society president is undoubtedly mistaken when she says that branches of the Church have given card parties for the purpose of raising funds, provided she refers to cards of this kind. Certainly such parties have not been held with our knowledge or consent. We do not disfellowship people who indulge in such games for having done so, but we feel that it is a waste of valuable time which might be used to better advantage, and often it leads to quarreling, heating, etc.

[Source: Heber J. Grant, Letter to Leolin N. Dickey, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon] (at Fillmore) Two young unmarried people have committed fornication. "Bro. Kelly (1st Counselor in stake pres.) was told that on asking forgiveness they should be permitted to receive re baptism and not be cut off; but where persons thus sin who have received their endowments, they must be excommunicated."

En route to Washington, D.C. Just before arriving in Washington, D.C. the horses on the stagecoach ran off at full speed while the coachman was getting a drink. Joseph Smith climbed outside the door of the coach and regained control of the horses after a two to three mile run, saving the passengers from injury.

The First Presidency announced that, beginning Jan. 1, the term of full-time missionary service for single elders would again be 24 months. It had been shortened from two years to 18 months in April 1982.

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff] I had an interview with Hiram Kimball. He sympathieses much with Foster the Laws[,] Marks &c [who had conspired against Joseph Smith]. He saw Foster out on the prairie by himself vary poor & in trouble. Said he would be willing to sacrafice his last Child he has if that would place him back in his former Standing in the Church And if He possessed riches He would give it all to have 5 minutes Conversation with Joseph Smith. Kimball said he was vary sorry for him & Could not help sheding tears for him. Said he could forgive him with all his heart & Advised him to go to the valley And thought all would forgive him. He seemed to take much interest in that Class of people than in building up the Kingdom of God.

[Apostle Brigham Young] ... we had an exclent time on the lakae, the wind arose about one o'clock in the morning I went upon deck and I felt impres in spirit to pray to the Father in name of Jesus for a forgiveness of all my sins and then I fet to command the winds to secs [cease] and let ous goe safe on our Jorney the winds abated and glory & ouner [honor] & prase be to that God that rules all things.

... Every young man in the Church should refrain from the use of hot drinks, as well as tobacco and liquor, and from the use of meat except in the way that the Lord has directed. But you can see what the result would be if we were to enforce a rigid rule of this character. * we should be reluctant to give recommends to young men who would refuse to abstain from the use of tobacco. There might be some cases, however where to[o] strict an application of this might not be wisdom. ...

[Revelation] When I [George Q. Cannon] reached the Gardo House this morning President [Wilford] Woodruff showed me a revelation that he had received upon the question of which we were speaking yesterday. He said that he had prayed about it and the Lord had given him his word. I copy it herein: Sunday night, November 24, 1889 Thus saith the Lord to my servant Wilford, I, the Lord, have heard thyprayers and thyrequest and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit. Thus saith the Lord unto my servants the Presidency of my Church, who hold the keys of the kingdom of God upon the earth. I, the Lord, hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation and all the nations of the earth, in mine own hands. And all that I have revealed and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand. Let not my servants who are called to the presidency of my Church deny mu word or my law which concerns the salvation of the children of men Let them pray for the Holy Spirit, which shall be given them to guide them in their acts. Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise. Your enemies seek you destruction and the destruction of my people. If the saints will hearken unto my voice and the counsel of my servants, the wicked shall not prevail. Let my servants who officiate as your counselors before the courts, make their pleading as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit, without any further pledges from the priesthood, and they shall be justified. I, the Lord, will hold the courts, with the officers of the government, and the nation, responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion. I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father. Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Fear not the wicked and ungodly Search the scriptures, for they are they that testify of me, and the revelations which I have given to my servant Joseph, and to all my servants since the world began, which are revealed in the records of divine truth. These revelations contain the judgments of God which are to be poured out upon all nations under heaven, which includes Great Babylon. These judgments are at the door. They will be fulfilled, as God lives. Leave judgment with me; it is mine, saith the Lord. Watch the signs of the times, they will show the fulfilment of the word of the Lord. Let me servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer. Obtain the Holy Ghost as thy constant companion, and act as you are moved upon by that spirit and all will be well with you. The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God. Great events await you in this generation, and are nigh at your door. Awake, O Israel, and have faith in God and His promises, and he will not forsake you. But I, the Lord, will deliver my saints from the dominion of the wicked in mine own due time and way. I cannot deny my word, neither in blessing nor judgment. Therefore, let mine anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and faint not. Exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God. Be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord and the heavenly hosts are watching 522 over you and over your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly, to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Even so, Amen.

[Source: George Q. Cannon Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Brigham Young Sermon] Pres. Young said I would like an article written referring to Haun's Mill Massacre, noticing instances when Indians had massacred the whites. Pres. said it will be in the States and then other countries, that if a man lived a truthful, honest, virtuous life, he will be accused of being a Mormon, and he will have to leave their society if he will not enter into their wickedness. -- Salt Lake City

Historical Note: During the month of November 1834, Joseph Smith was occupied in making preparations for the School of the Elders. "No month," he said, "ever found me more busily engaged than November; but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.".

Section 106 directed Warren A. Cowdery to preside over the branch of the Church in Freedom, Cattaraugus County, New York.

Publication Note. Section 106 was first published as section 99 in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Wilford Woodruff, as church president, receives revelation, which continued the defiant discourse with the church's enemies. He says that Jesus Christ himself promised protection for the church's practice of polygamy: "I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst ... Awake, O. Israel, and have faith in God and His promises, and he will not forsake you. I the Lord will deliver my Saints from the domination of the wicked, in my own due time and way." (Stacker, p. XVII.)

[First Presidency Office Journal] Pres[iden]ts [Wilford] Woodruff & [George Q.] Cannon met this afternoon with Bro[ther] John W Young and Att[orne]ys Le Grand Young, J[ames] H Moyle & R[ichard]. W. Young'-to consider the advisability of putting further testimony in court more fully explaining the instructions to pray for the avenging the blood of the Prophets in the Endowments also in regard to anointing the arm &c. Bro[ther] John W. Young felt that it would be a proper time to state in court that instructions had been given by the Presidency that no more plural marriages should be solemnized if such a step is deemed advisable by the brethren. This was talked over and fullyconsidered, and the question was left with President Woodruff to decide.

Pres[iden]t Woodruff made a matter of prayer of this question and he was directed by the Spirit of the Lord by revelation which he wrote, and submitted it to Pres[iden]t. Joseph F. Smith, this evening on his return, who feelingly acknowledged the word of the Lord in the revelation given to Pres[iden]t Woodruff in this matter & expressed himself as fully satisfied. ...

[Source: First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve minutes] An informal discussion of the [B. H.] Roberts case, then took place. President Snow expressed his feelings as follows. He hoped that Brother Roberts would have from two to four hours before the house of Representatives, as he believed the Lord would inspire him on that occasion, and that broad-minded people everywhere would be favorably impressed with his presentation of his own case. "After that", said the President, "I don't care what is done, that is, whether he retains his seat or not".

[Brigham Young Jr.] Met in Temple. did not have my clothes so not enough present. we did not dress. Had long talk on 'obeying the law.' Concluded to let the spirit direct us in counciling brethren what to do. We must not council men to disobey the Law, but separate their families to other states etc. is my feeling. Truly I am a good christian and follow their example in that I always send away one wife before I take an other never having two women at once.

[Source: Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle Rudger Clawson] ... The following is a copy of a letter addressed to S. A. Hunsaker, in answer to one he wrote to me:

Salt Lake City,

Nov. 23rd, 1899

Simeon A. Hunsaker,

Payson, Utah.

Dear Brother:

In answer to your letter of the 1st inst., would say that the reply you received from Pres. Woodruff, as quoted by yourself, would not in any sense justify you in taking another wife. You certainly did wrong in this matter. Why did you not seek counsel from the president of the stake ....

[George Q. Cannon] Brother Joseph F. Smith and myself were there. We had interviews with the attorneys concerning the case and gave such counsel as was necessary. A list of names of suitable persons to testify was selected, and the points which it was thought they could substantiate were assigned them, and the brethren were instructed to notify them and get them together, so that theymight understand. Brother John W. Young and some of the attorneys were quite anxious to have the testimony given concerning some features of the endowment. It was proposed to have Brother John W. Young go on the stand and testify. Another point was, whether he could not tell that plural marriage was entirelydiscontinued in the territory, and that it had been decided that none should take place. We were pressed for our views upon this subject and I gave mine freely and said that I could not answer this question for President Woodruff. He was the man and would have to answer it. ...

[Source: George Q. Cannon Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] This evening I had a chat with Bro. Thatcher and I learned that his ideas as to the resurrection of the Prophet Joseph and his leading the people back to redeem the Center Stake of Zion were not as I had supposed they were. I was glad to have the chat as I had been misjudging him.

Parley P. Pratt and fifty other men leave the Salt Lake Valley to explore southern Utah. By the first of the year, they reach the site of St. George and collect a wealth of information about central and southern Utah's settlement potential.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. John F. Reaney] Some years ago I suffered with insomnia, but now when I wake up at three or four o'clock in the morning I sit up and talk to my dictaphone for an hour or two and then manage as a Rule to get a good nap afterwards, and almost every day I take a nap of a full hour at my office. It is my seventy- seventh birthday today, and I am in better health, both in vigor of min and body

[Source: Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. John F. Reaney, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes] Between the morning and the afternoon meetings President Joseph F. Smith, accompanied by his wife and daughter Bishop Nibley and wife and Elders George Albert and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., called on Joseph Smith [III], president of the Reorganized Church. They found him feeble, tho apparently in his usual health. He has been nearly blind for some time and also deaf. He received us kindly as did also his wife, who appears to be a very excellent woman, and his son Israel who informed the visitors that he held no official position in the Reorganized church. There are three boys belonging to the present wife who appear to be of some promise, if they can kept from the bitterness of Reorganiteism and brought to see the truth. The visit was but brief and apparently effected Joseph Smith whose feelings have softened considerably in latter years. Formerly he manifested a very bitter spirit towards his cousin President Joseph F. Smith of whom he had said and written many unfavorable things.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes] Attorney F[ranklin]. S. Richards called. He had just come from court, where he had appeared in the case of Elder Joseph E. Taylor, charged with unlawful cohabitation. The defendant had been asked as to his future intentions, that is whether or not he proposed to obey the law. Brother Richards, holding this to be a new phase of the case, had asked that it be not pressed, but the prosecuting attorney had insisted on an answer to the question. The court then informed Brother Richards that he should deal with this class of cases as with all others, and that this question would therefore be asked of the defendants.

Now arose the consideration, what course ought to be taken by the brethren who might be made to answer to this charge. In view of the evident determination of our enemies to work up public opinion against us for the purpose of securing a constitutional amendment forbidding polygamy, it was thought advisable for the brethren who may hereafter be placed in the position of defendants, to promise to obey the law.

Henry Lawrence, who had administered sacraments in the Endowment House from 1865 to 1869 before joining the Godbeite protest movement testified that the "substance" of the oath of vengence was: "You each and all agree to avenge the blood of the prophets, Joseph and Hyrum, who have sealed their testimony with their blood, this you will teach this to your children and your children's children to the third and fourth generations."

[Source: Salt Lake Tribune, 22 November 1889 as quoted in Aird, Nichols, Bagley, "Voices of Dissent in the Mormon West"]

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff] I went to bed slept untill 12 oclok and I awoke and my Monitor guide or spirit of the Lord Call it by what name you will said to me arise, tarry not, go to Sunset Council A M Tenney to Close the bargin buy St John and send the missionaries to take possession of the Colorado Meadows for much depends upon your action in this matter.

The Saint Louis Luminary first published in St. Louis, Missouri; Erastus Snow, editor. â•It existed primarily to answer false accusations against both the Mormons and Utah andâ¦ devote[d] itself to the â—exposion of the favorable side of Mormonism.â˜

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff] 22d Elder Pratt & myself attended a debate in the methodist meeting house between mr Spear a methodist Preacher & Elder James. It was the 5th Day of the debate & it Closed. I rode 7 miles & spent the night with J. Ivins. 7 miles.

The members of the Literary and Scientific society voted to dose their business by transfering their property to Lorenzo Snow, Trustee in Trust of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in payment of a debt of about $25,000.00. Prest. G. Q. Cannon presided.

[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Spoke of the Manifesto and said the saints were enabled to receive it because of their experience. "Don't worry about the future. Do right today, and we will be sufficient for tomorrow." "Some people are worrying about an amendment to the Constitution. This should not be.

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] I had a chat this morning with Judge Henderson regarding the position taken by some of the leading Democrats at a recent meeting at which they refused to sustain B.H. Roberts as the representative of our party in Congtess (sic). I also chatted with him regarding the issue of the moral on this same subject and told him so far as I was concerned that if the Democratic party had no use for men of my kind, namely those who had more than one wife I wanted to know as I was prepared in such an event to drive such a party from having control in the State or the city.

Charles W. Penrose, who had testified as a witness in the naturalization case before Judge Anderson in the Third District Court, was committed to the Penitentiary for refusing to answer an impertinent question with reference to his family affairs.

...P.M. went with President Young to see Sister Jane Hardman. President Young blessed her with the blessings of the everlasting covenant and she was sealed up to eternal life and to W[illiam] C[layton] for time and for all eternity.

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]

Parley P. Pratt is secretly sealed to Belinda Marden by Brigham Young. On 1 January 1846, she gave birth to a son, Nephi. Though Belinda was living in the Pratt home, Parley's legal wife Mary Ann did not know of the sealing.

[First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve] Pres[iden]t. [Joseph F.] Smith informed the Council that Pres[iden]t. Richard W. Young had suggested to the First Presidency the advisability of the Church making an effort to collect subscriptions in behalf of the Red Cross, the amounts thus subscribed to be used at the discretion of the Society. The suggestion was that it be announced generally that a portion of our regular monthly fast donations be set aside for the Red Cross, and that our people generally be invited to increase their donations, the idea being that the Church would get credit for the amounts thus raised instead of the individuals, and that therefore individual members who might be asked for donations might consistently answer that they were contributing through the Church in the way suggested.

[James Henry Martineau] Blessed Bishop John Neff and his daughters Frances and Eugenia, the latter about to go on a mission. Sister Mary A. Hyde White also blessed the two girls in tongues. We had a delightful time.

... Recommends should not be given to persons afflicted with infectious disease, or with offensive skin diseases. ... Those who receive recommends to be married in the Temple should not have the marriage ceremony performed before they come to the Temple, unless there is some justifiable reason for doing so, such as having to delay an undesirable length of time before they could come, or having to travel alone, by team, to reach the Temple.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes] A letter was read from George Osmond and William W. Burton, to the effect that it was common report that Brother Anson V. Call, counselor in the Stake Presidency, had married a plural wife recently and they ask that some of the Apostles attend the conference and investigate the affair. Letter referred to Brother [Francis M.] Lyman. ...

[Apostle Brigham Young Jr.] [Evening] Attended meeting at Gardo house Presidency several of the Twelve and Church lawyers present. Agreed to push our views before the Court and establish our innocence of all [?] grievous charges brought against us. Men are revealing what they learned at the Endowment house 40 years ago and lying before God and man to accomplish the destruction of this people. The pot is boiling with a vengeance and I am glad. The wicked must have opportunity as well as the saints.

[Brigham Young] ... in the evening I anointed Brother Taylor in the House of the Lord the Prose was as follows after Brother Taylor had washed in pure water and castel soap then we all went to House of the Lord H. C. K. [Heber C. Kimball] opened the meeting by prayer I then anointed J. Taylor with pure sweet oil and pronounced such blessings as the spirit gave witness J. T. then rose and praid for himself Brother Turley was anointed by D. [Daniel] S. Miles than it was seled [sealed] by Hozanna then their feet was washed the meeting closed.

President Snow explained to President Cannon the mind of the Council in relation to resuming the prayer circle, and President Cannon replied that he was very glad to learn of it.

The order of procedure, as to the prayer circle and the business of the Council, was next considered, and a decision reached that it would be better to have the prayer circle first.

...The brethren present now clothed and assembled for prayer using the room of the Apostles, where they have always met to do the business of the Council, in lieu of the First Presidency's room, where the prayer circle was formerly held, but which is not now in readiness.

The hymn "Lord, we come before thee now", was sung; Elder Brigham Young offered the opening prayer, and Elder John W. Taylor was mouth in the circle. After the members of the Council had disrobed, and resumed their ordinary attire, the following business was transacted. ...

Brother Grant now brought to the consideration of the Council the constant efforts that were being made by the Gentiles of Salt Lake City, to draw business southward... [discussion of counter-measuers by moving Z.C.M.I further south]...

[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon] He [one of the First Presidency] told of the spirit which led away from the Church in early days six of the Twelve Apostles. He said that the Prophet Joseph frequently did peculiar things in order to try those who were about him. One Sunday two Methodist preachers came to visit him in his house. He talked with them for some time, and then took a coal from the ash pan and marked on the floor. He then jumped, and said to one of the brethren present that he could not jump as far. This very much offended his sanctimonious visitors, when he opened out on them and said he merely did it to try them, as he perceived they were visiting him merely to find some sin in him.

When Pres. Woodruff first met him and his brother Hyrum they were coming in from target shooting with pistols, which they held in their hands. Bro. Joseph remarked that he was intending to go up to Missouri, and thought he would have to do some shooting, and wanted first to see if he could hit anything.

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff] 16 Wednesday We Started Early in the morning to return home. Soon After we left Kays word a snow Storm accompanied by a strong Canyon wind Struck us and it was almost impossible for us to travel. It Came near blowing over our Carriages. I was in the lightest Carriage of the Company & it was with the greatest difficulty we Could keep it right side up. It blew 4 small windows out. We finally reached Farmington. President Young stoped with Bishop Hess. J. Taylor G A Smith & myself went to Ezra Clarks & spent the night in the worst gale I Ever Experienced on land in my life. It damaged Ezra Clark some $700 in Blowing off Roofs & blowing away Hay &c. It blew down some Houses & tooke the Roof off from Many. It took the roof off from Bountiful Meeting House. 22.

[Note, Andrew Jenson (a church historian) classified this as a hurricane]

[James E. Talmage] I was entertained at noon at the home of President Joseph B. Keeler where I met a number of the stake and general officers of the Relief Society; and in the early evening took dinner at the home of Brother Jesse Knight. For the first time I heard from Brother Knight's own lips the account of the answer to his prayers by which he was placed on the road to abundant prosperity; and his statement is in flat contradiction to the many unauthorized rumors of his having received supernatural visitations by which he was directed to hidden ore bodies. His testimony is given in a spirit of humility and a sincerity; and he is very emphatic in saying that he has never received any such 'manifestation' as the promoters of the 'Dream Mine' in Utah county, and the Holton 'Dream Mine' in Boxelder county, profess to have had. ...

[Source: James E. Talmage Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] [In Deseret] We chatted over the trouble between brother Weston and the Bishop [Moody] and pointed out to the bishop the fact that he had done wrong in challenging the vote of brother Weston. He admitted his error, but not in the spirt that I feel he should have done. I am impressed that it would be a good thing if there were a change in the Bishop at Deseret. I think the change would be a good thing for the saints of the Ward.

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff] 15 Saturday We Commenced our Quarterly Conference. Prayer By Moses Thatcher. Statistics Read as follows: 4 Patriarchs, 444 Seventies, 296 high Priests, 929 Elders 192 Priests, 232 Teachers, 292 Deacons 5,962 Members 8,351 Officers & Members, 3,436 Children under 8 years 11,787 Total of Souls, and 2,645 Sunday school Children. 14 Names were Presented to be ordained High Priests. President Taylor then made some remarks upon the Subject of the Class of men to be ordained High Priests. Quite a Portion of them should be smart inteligent faithful young Men to use for Presidets Bishops & their C[ouncillors?] to Presi[dents?]. Bishops were then Called upon to report their wards verbally. Quite a number reported. Afternoon. W Woodruff Prayed F M Lyman spok 44 m M Thatcher 40 M.

I met with the young People in the Evening. M Thatcher spoke 40 M Br Gill 23, G Q Cannon 17 M, & W Woodruff 25 M. We had a vary Good Meeting.

George A. Smith accuses Warren Parrish, from the pulpit of the Ogden Tabernacle, of taking $100,000 out of the vault, buying up everything, and putting the money back before Joseph was aware. Given that $100,000 KSS would only be worth $1,250 of goods at the time (or $2,650 at the best of times), Warren could have done it. This claim is dubious, and odds that someone else would have noticed and mentioned it are high.

A year later, Apostle Smith seemed to be describing the vision in a more traditional way:âœWhen the Lord appeared to Joseph Smithâ¦He [Joseph] thus describes the incident: â˜In the spring of 1820â¦I saw a pillar of lightâ¦I saw two personagesâ¦This is my beloved son, hear him.â™â(âœJournal of Discoursesâ, Vol. 11, pp.1-2)

[Apostle Marriner W. Merrill] Met with the Apostles in our room in the Temple at 10:30 a. m. Discussed the propriety of educating our Elders before sending them on missions, as suggested by John W. Young, who has lived in London the last 3 years. The suggestion was repudiated; it was decided to select the best Elders we could and let them depend on the Lord as formerly. We also had suggestions from Professor Ben Cluff of the B. Y. at Provo offering to educate the Priesthood and make them proficient to preside over Wards, Stakes, and the Saints in general; this was also repudiated.

[Source: Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

[John Nuttle] ... Prest. L. Snow was of the opinion that Bros. Merrill & Lund and Thatcher could go onto the Stand and testify that there were no such oaths, obligations or covenants required in the Endowments, but if they should be asked what did transpire there they could refuse to answer. Bro. John Henry Smith, asked if there would be any objections to his referring to what is written in the Revelations of St. John in regard to prayer &c. by way of rebuttal. Bro. Snow answered No! that it would be proper for him to do so and that Bros Merrill & Lund could corroberate (sic) that; but that none of the brethren should give any of the Endowments or instructions but refuse to answer questions to that end. ...

[First Presidency Office Journal] [At a meeting concerning testimony regarding the nature of the oaths of the endowment:] The question of testifying to any of the Endowments or instructions was considered, by some it was 519 thought that the instructions given about praying to the Lord to avenge the blood of the Prophets and referring to the 6th Chapter of revelations 9 & 10th verses as what is prayed for and taught so as to refute the testimony which has been given. would be proper. others thought that it should not be mentioned as fully as it is given &c.

[Source: First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle John Henry Smith] At 10 a.m. I went to Court, Judge Anderson presiding.

A number of Witnesses was put on the stand to show that the Saints were murderous and disloyal and that in the [temple] endowments men obligated themselves to murder. Apostates ... were sworn and gave testimony filled with lies. The day was consumed by new witnesses.

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] There are some lively times in the Court and we hardly know what way to turn. I feel that it is better for us to suffer rather than to allow any of the endowments to be revealed. It is too bad that we should be placed in such a position as we are in today. There is no worse lie on earth than the one that there is something in the Endowments to make a man a traitor to this Nation or that there are any oaths to avenge the blood of the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum Smith on this Nation. ...

In the Third District Court, Salt Lake City, the extraordinary proceedings, in which John Moore and other "Mormons" were refused citizenship, on the pretence that they had subscribed to a certain secret and disloyal oath in the Endowment House, was commenced before Judge Thos. J. Anderson. Proceedings were continued day by day until the 25th.

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff] During the evening in company with Brother Cannon I Attended one of Le Roy Sunderland Lectures upon Patheism. He had some 10 persons in a state of Clarvoyance And About a dozen asleep And many affected in the first degree. He classes his Mesmerism under 3 degrees 1 2 3 But it is evident in a great measure that his operation are a money making scheme. Those in the third degree are trained subjects And I could free-quently see the Cloven foot manifest.

[First Presidency Office Journal] ... then Bro[ther] A. D. Thatcher, John Clark, W[illiam] W Riter, E[dwin] G Woolley, Frank Jennings & J H Anderson were asked some questions in point as to oaths & all of whom answered very well & pointedly. Bro[ther] Riter had formed an impression in regard to avenging the blood of the prophets & church when he got his endowments which had continued with him so that he was not clear as to other brethren.

[Source: First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] At seven thirty attended a meeting at the Gardo. The question of how far we would be justified in revealing the secrets of the Endowments to head off the attempts that are being made to show that there are oaths taken in the Endowments that are contrary to those that a good citizen should take was fully and freely talked over, and the general feeling was to say nothing about the endowments in Court and to suffer the consequences no matter what they would be.

[Former apostle Richard R. Lyman, Letter to Stephen L Richards (regarding his excommunication for adultry)] Deep down in my heart I feel as if I had no trial. I think I was in the presence of the Brethren fewer than ten minutes. Brother Joseph Fielding [Smith] said 'We desire to give this serious matter as little publicity as possible' then came that terrible publicity the very next day that was read all over the world. My Michigan classmates (and I had been made president for life of the class of '95) heard it everywhere. My engineering friends, some of them the greatest engineers in the world, began discussing it.

Does it not appear to you to have been a strange way to treat a friend after being in session with him all day under such conditions that at the slightest whisper he could have been held and he would gladly and quickly have explained his conduct. I say does it not seem to have been most unkind to have sent after him, not an automobile full but a bus as large as a streetcar full of armed officers who split and [s]mashed down the door as if they were endeavoring to capture the worse kind of wicked armed and fighting criminal. The Chief of Police, Reed Vetterli, told me immediately afterward that if he had known that I was the one involved he would not have permitted the officers to do it to say nothing of his leading it himself as he did. He was only told that they were after a 'Big Shot.'

More than six years have not passed since this tragic affair happened. Many have forgotten it and I am treated by my school and engineering friends as if nothing had ever happened and many Church people, apparently thinking I was harshly treated, pay me more attention than they ever did before. I went to Midvale [Utah] today to the home of a friend who has lost his wife and the people flocked around like a long lost brother and one woman insisted on my going to her home to see her father and mother. I feel as if I cannot go to any chapel except in my own ward. I never miss my sacrament meeting but of course regret having to refuse to partake of the sacrament.

Now as to my offense. For reasons that seemed to me to justify it I agreed to regard that woman as my wife and she agreed to regard me as her husband. While no written note was made of this agreement at the time the date I feel sure was Nov[ember]. 9, 1925. This relationship had gone on for 18 years in a most quiet way before the publicity of more than six years ago. It seems to me therefore, now that I am nearly 80 years old, and since the Lord knows my heart and all the facts concerning my case, it may be wisest and best, as I stated above, and after these six long years, to wait and let the Lord over there give me what I deserve. ...

If anything could possibly be done, without publicity to induce the Brethren to extend to me the hand of welcome and friendship in the Church Office Building and in our various places of worship that would be the richest blessing I could ask. But having had another wife since Nov. 9, 1925, although not living with her, this is a something that I presume is impossible.

Please regard this letter as personal and confidential. Perhaps after reading it you may think it desirable for us to meet again and discuss some of these things further. Some one has said: 'If a man has not done anything for which he ought to be ashamed or sorry he is not a very bad man.' I hope this is the case with me. Can I ever be forgiven for saying that?

[Source: Richard R. Lyman, Letter to Stephen L Richards, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] This afternoon at 4 I attended a meeting at the Gardo House. The meeting was called to see what the best action to take would be to head off the efforts that were being made to prevent the members of the church from becoming citizens.

[Lorenzo Saunders Interview regarding Joseph Smith] ... I know it was before Jo. claimed to have taken the plates from the hill Cummorah. And there was some two or three of us traveled that ground over, & we could not find a hole. There was a great raft of them digging for money. E.L.K.

Who was at the head? Mr. S.

Jo. Smith with his peep Stone. I never saw Jo. Smith digging[.] ...

Mr. S.

(Excited) I tell you, sir, I am one of them that saw digging there & I will Swear to it. I am one of them that went & tore the door down to the cave. My Father was in possession & he ordered us to break that door down & put the hole up.--

Benjamin Tabor owned the land at that time. The cave was situated on the East side of the hill. ... I never Saw young Jo. Smith there by the cave. I will tell you I take the evidence from what the old man said respecting that; The old man said: what: Jo. could see in his peep stone what there was in that cave. & the old man said that Joseph could see. [p. 8] E.L.K.

Was it not an account of the stories of there being treasure hidden there by old Spanish Buchaneers? Mr. S.

Well I will tell you they did dig; Willard Chase & Alvin, the one that died. Willard Chase told me about a place; He said he & alvin Smith went there to dig & there was a chest there; and he said it was so large, & so wide (measuring with a cane) It was an iron chest. And he said they dug down & it only lay a little under the ground. I says how did this shovel become broken up like that? Willard Chase then told me; He says Alvin & I went down & found that chest. Willard Chase claimed his sister Sally had a peep stone. The Lord bless you I have seen her peep stone a hundred times; It was a little bit of a stone & it was green & she would hold it before light. After I left there, it was thirty years ago:--after I left there I can not tell you whether the peep stone was used or not[.] When men will come to me & tell me that men can pick stones out of this Earth [sentence incomplete]. as I told Jo. Smith when he dug one out of a well on Chases Farm in the Shape of a baby's foot. They dug that hole for money. Chase's & Smiths altogether was digging it[.] [p. 9] I knew all about the stone; Edmund Chase told me all about it, He lives here now, this side of Kalamazoo. He is a man older than I am[.] his name is Edmund Chase[.] I tell you when a man will come <<tell>> me that any one can get a stone, & see knowledge of futurity, I say that he is a liar & the truth is not in him. Steve Mungou lost his pocket book in the road with some $50. in money in it. He went right to Sally Chase to get her to look & see where it was; She went & looked. He was drawing wood out of the woods. She said that pocket book lays right at the side of a log in the woods where you loaded that wood. It lays right at the side of the log well we went & hunted & raked the ground over where she said but could not find it. It past along & finally one night got a paper from Canadagua [Canandaigua, New York], & in it was that a pocket book was found & taken to an old Ontario Bank[.] Took it there & the owner could come & describe his book. And he went & found his pocket book at the bank. I lost [a] drag tooth out of my drag, dragging on my brothers premises there; I says: Sally, tell me where is that drag tooth? She told me "it lays in a log heap." She says I think it lays a little past you will find it [p. 10]

I went & hunted & hunted but could not find it there. I afterwards found it away over in one corner of the field. Well I was going to tell you about Jo. We went to Smiths one day, it was a rainy day; We went into the old mans shop, he was a cooper, and the old man had a shirt on it was the raggedest & dirtyest shirt, and all full of holes. & we got Jo. Smith to look & tell us what color our Girls hair was. well you see by & by some of them says go to Jo. says he Jo. come look into futurity & tell us how it is there? Jo. says I can not do that, I can not look into futurity I can not look into anything that is holy. The old man stood there and says: "I guess he can not look into my shirt then["] E.L.K.

Do you remember whether Joseph Smith's wife was there when you saw Rigdon? M[r]. S.

I think she was. she used to be frequently at our house but I cant tell certainly for Jo. went down & married her in Penn. she used to be an awful fine pretty girl; she was an intelegent woman. My oldest sister & she used to be very intimate after Joseph was married. Right away after they was married she used to come to our house. My Father died in 1825. [p. 11]

Speaking of the Smith family I gave them credit for everything except Mormonism; They were good neighbors; They were kind neighbors in sickness; & Hiram Smith in particular when my father died he was at our house all the time. He <<& I>> had a brother died and he was as attentive then. They was always ready to bestow anything. The old man was always telling yarns, he would go to turkey shoots & get tight & he would pretend to put spells on their guns & would tell them they could not shoot a turkey. At the time the big hole was dug in the hill they was duped by one Walters who pretended to be a conjurer, I heard Willard Chase say that he was duped. They could not be deceived in it after he had gone through with a certain movements & [-] charged them $7. I seen the old man dig there day in and day out; He was close by. I used to go there & see them work. Joseph Smith never did work. They claim there in that book that Jo. Smith was a great worker. he was a lazy dog, I tell you the truth. He never worked for my brother; because I was there all the time. & Jo. Smith never worked there, & Jo. Smith was a fellow that would not form any acquaintance with anybody [p. 12] much & if he did he would get have conflict. Them days people drank liquor everybody drank whiskey & the Smiths with the rest ... L.S.

... I do not think Joseph Smith ever got any plates or ever had any plates. He got a glass box. I saw where the box was that was all. They claimed it was in that box. Now, if the plates was the thickness of tin the box could not hold one quarter of them. ... it was when Jo. Smith claimed to get the plates. Jo. Smith told the story but he told so many stories, it was a hard thing to get the fact in any way or shape. Now I can tell you what he told to our house respecting this revelation that he had in the very commencement before Alvin died, his brother; Sometime before this he claimed that he saw the Angel & that he was notified of these plates & all that & the time would be made known to him but it was not at that time made known to him but he must take his oldest brother & go <<to>> the spot & he could obtain them. Before that time his oldest brother died. Jo. Smith got that revelation a year or two before that. I do not know as I can tell what year Alvin died in[.] It was in the summer before Alvin died he told it at our house. perhaps Mrs. Smith has got the date of Alvins death in her record. After that Alvin died; Then Joseph said that he saw the angel again; The Angel told him he must go & get him a wife & then he could take his wife & go & get the plates. & he pretended he must get a black horse or a mule to go & get the plates[.] We went there & we examined the hill [p. 16] all over where he claimed to got the plates & we could not find a place that was broke & there was no plates on the ground where the hill was not broke. Robinson said he tried many times to find the hole where he took them out, that is on the west hill it was C cleared off E.L.K.

He claimed he threw it into a brush heap there is trees on the top of the hill & timber on the South side. ...

About the revelation that Joseph had that there was going to be a new Messiah brought into the world, I heard it intimated that Catherine was in a family way. I know nothing about it. I do not know anything about it, says I, this is a very delicate matter to meddle with female characters. E.L.K.

It is Catherine Saulbury now. L.S.

The time they lived there was 1830; She was quite a solid woman at that time. If you have read Tuckers book dont you know it is said that Martin Harris went through the streets claiming they had received a new [r]evelation there was coming out a new Jesus Christ Martin proclaimed one that would open the Eyes of the blind & cause the dum[b] to Speak. I never heard him say so. & on the way to Kirtland that child was born & it was a dead one & it was a she Jesus. It was implicated there at the time it Catherine & I told your brother so. says I it is intimated around that Sidney Rigdon was the origin of that [child][.] [p. 21] says I if you want to go into obscene matters I can tell somethings too. I went to Manchester at a Tavern. The old man Smith got tight there & Blue Brown. And they was always Contending to old Jo. that his Penis was 16 inches long. I told your brother that he climax was [once?][.] it was in a cold day & there their wives sat waiting outside for them & old Jo. & al measuring his drink. And then they had a square, & they measured; so old Jo. believed it was longer[.] so they pushed so hard they pushed it right through the seat of his breeches. I never believed about this there matter that Tucker put in the book, they claimed about the Wm Stafford black s[h]eep.

Apostle James E. Talmage attends Third Christian Citizenship Conference in Pittsburgh as delegate chosen by Utah's governor. Utah delegates are booed and hissed by 4,000 other delegates. Talmage hurriedly leaves after some delegates surround him and threaten to strip off his clothes in order to display his temple garments.

"The Woman's Exponent" a newspaper published in Salt Lake City from 1872 to 1914, was meant to meet the needs of LDS women. It was not an official church publicaiton but was tied closely to the church and the Relief Society. It advocated for women's suffrage and supported the practice of polygamy.

First issue of the Messenger and Advocate is published in Kirtland, Oliver Cowdery, editor, F. G. Williams & Co., publisher. Includes Oliver's letter to W. W. Phelps from Norton, Ohio, September 7, 1834, recounting translation of the Book of Mormon, angelic restoration of "the holy [Aaronic] priesthood" in the name of the Messiah; and Oliver's letter from Pontiac dated October 20, but referring to the company's arrival at Pontiac, November 8.

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman] [Deseret] [Bishop Moody had been called to apologize for challenging Brother Western's vote at election because he was a polygamist living with his wives] [Conference] I taught them upon our status in relation to plural marriage. A man is not an adulterer because he lives with his plural wife. We must protect one another. Never betray a brother. All concluded to do right in the future ... Bro[ther] Grant spoke splendidly for an hour upon the Word of Wisdom and politics. There was much Republicanism in his Democracy.

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman] [Deseret] [Bishop Moody had been called to apologize for challenging Brother Western's vote at election because he was a polygamist living with his wives] [Conference] I taught them upon our status in relation to plural marriage. A man is not an adulterer because he lives with his plural wife. We must protect one another. Never betray a brother. All concluded to do right in the future ...

I dreamed last night of seeing my Father. He was dressed in white robes. I was myself as were many others. I saw Thomas Bullock the [scribe?] and among other Persons I saw a Number of Gentiles who were our enemies in our midst and I thought they ought not to be with us. I have had a Number of Dreams Lately that seem to have some meaning to them.

I read the following in the Arizona Miner:

"Apostle Wilford Woodruff of the Latter Day Saints x x x recently unbosomed himself to the Mormon Church as follows:

"I will never dishonor my wives & children at the Demand of a Nation Steeped in Sin and ripe for the Damnation of Hell x x x. ..."

I glory in the Epistle & Testimony which I have bourn to all Nation and all the world from which that extract was made and God will hold up my testimony and the testimony of all the righteous. Though the heaven and Earth Pass away The Testimony of inspiration will not Pass away but will all be fulfilled as the Lord liveth.

First issue of the Messenger and Advocate is published in Kirtland, Oliver Cowdery, editor, F. G. Williams & Co., publisher. Includes Oliver's letter to W. W. Phelps from Norton, Ohio, September 7, 1834, recounting translation of the Book of Mormon, angelic restoration of "the holy [Aaronic] priesthood" in the name of the Messiah; and Oliver's letter from Pontiac dated October 20, but referring to the company's arrival at Pontiac, November 8.

[President Heber J. Grant] I went over to the Deseret Book Company and asked Brother Hooper, the Manager, what he thought would be a fair price to pay for a copyright of Brother Ivins' book 'Mormonism and Free Masonry.' He thought a thousand dollars would be about right. I told him I thought we ought to pay $2500.00. He said that would be a very liberal price. I explained to Ashby Snow that I thought we ought to buy the copyright and pay $2500.00 for it, and he said he thought that would be a very nice thing for Brother Ivins' widow and hoped we would do it.

[First Presidency Letter to President of the South African Mission] We note what you say regarding the difficulties with which you are confronted pertaining to the colored race. You no doubt are aware of the position taken by the Church to the effect that the descendants of Ham are not considered as being entitled to the holy priesthood. This inhibition comes from the Lord and applies to very person whose veins are but slightly tainted with the blood of Cain, as well as to the full blooded negro. This inhibition on the race of Cain must remain unchanged until the Lord himself orders it otherwise. People whose veins are but slightly tainted with the blood of Cain must be classed as negroes for the reason that while they may distribute the taint in their blood among the white races by intercourse with them, it never can be eliminated while the curse placed on Cain stands unsatisfied. Those who join the Church and are obedient to the commandments, will certainly receive a far greater reward than they could obtain in any other way, eve though they ma not have the blessings of the priesthood conferred upon them ...

[Source: First Presidency, Letter to Don Mack Dalton, President of the South African Mission, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[James E. Talmage] Spent some time at the office of the First Presidency. During the afternoon attended a meeting of the First Presidency and certain invited members of the Deseret Sunday School Union Board. At this meeting I read aloud several chapters of the book, 'Jesus the Christ' now in process of preparation, the purpose being to ascertain whether the book would be properly suited for the lower or higher grades in the theological department. As was intended the work is being prepared for our people in general, and is not adapted for use as a text book for immature students. It was decided by the First Presidency that the work be completed of the same scope and plan as heretofore followed, and that the theological department of the Deseret Sunday School Union provide their own outline for the students of the first year's work in said department. In connection with the matter of the book it may be well to record here that since my beginning on the writing September 14th last, I have devoted every spare hour to that labor and have at present in written form though not all in revised condition, twenty chapters. According to present indications the work on the book will be interrupted through other appointments already made. The purpose is, however, to bring it to completion at the earliest possible time though with some relief from the intense pressure under which the writing has been heretofore done.

[Source: James E. Talmage Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

[Brigham Young Jr.] This weather is too cold for me. I believe Pres[ident]. [Lorenzo] Snow ought to go to a warmer climate for the winter. His cold is a dangerous one I believe, but some warm atmosphere would bring him back to health.

[Source: Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

Primitive Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite); James Caldwell (organizer); Split off/Continuation of Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite); Now Defunct; Rejected the First Presidency as a valid leadership organization of the church; later merged with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite); Prarie Saints (RLDS) group.

The internal interests are saved. The flag again floats for the American people. F[rank] J. Cannon is elected to Congress. My precinct has gone Republican. I am elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

The SS Arizona, a ship that carried more than 1,250 Latter-day Saints in nine crossings of the Atlantic, collides with a huge iceberg on its way from New York to Liverpool. Four Mormon missionaries are on board. The damage is extensive, but the ship makes it safely to a port in Newfoundland.

Apostle M. Russell Ballard tells 25,000 students at BYU that general authorities "will not lead you astray. We cannot." This claim of infallibility is officially published, and he repeats it to another BYU devotional meeting in Mar 1996.

John W. Welch files articles of incorporation for the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), a nonprofit organization established to support and publish original research into the Book of Mormon and other Latter-day Saint scriptures. FARMS later becomes part of BYU (1999).

[Apostle Anthony Ivins] Bro Richards asked the brethren [of the Stake] to express themselves as to their preference for a stake presidency by writing on a slip of paper the names of the present presidency or any oth- ers as they might prefer.

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman] We selected 17 brethren to form a prayer circle. When we talked with bro[ther] John C. Delaware he could not forgive Jos[eph] F. Smith for his political speech. If the Territory goes Republican that speech will be the cause of it said he. He seems about the crankiest man I have met.

President Brigham Young; Delivered in the Bowery; November 6, 1864. After quoting D&C 107:53-55, President Young continues:

So, in like manner, every faithful son of God, becomes, as it were, Adam to the race that springs from his loins, when they are embraced in the covenants and blessings of the Holy Priesthood; and in the lapse of eternity, and in the progress of eternal lives, every true son of God becomes a king of kings, and a lord of lords, and it may also be said of him, as it was written of Jesus Christ, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end."

[Brigham Young Sermon] In the evening Pres. Young came in and alluded to the character of most of the gentiles, saying they are dogs, some are hounds, some are bull terriers, and every other variety but still they are dogs. -- Salt Lake City

[Brigham Young Sermon] ... And if I was to come out and tell you in the name of Israel's God, if this people do not tithe themselves, and pay better attention to the law of tithing that the Lord God Almighty will smite the earth they occupy and smite them. And some will turn round and say I wish to scare them. I am utterly opposed to threatening any person with God Almighty, or hell fire. I always shun that path. Some of the brethren get up here; for instance when brother Hyde wants to accomplish anything on this earth, has to threaten them with God Almighty, and hell fire, if they do not do so, and so....

Now I tell you again, if I am not mistaken, if I un1erstand the mind and will of the Lord concerning this people, in the midst of these mountains, instead of your being afflicted, instead of our being afflicted with crickets, and with grasshoppers we will be afflicted with that that is a thousand times worse. ...

Stop I always do my swearing in the pulpit; if that man comes up and says I don't want to pay tithing on that, then what the devil have you with my time, I own you, I paid you a thousand dollars a year; he is my servant and slave just as much as those blacks are in the south. he is my slave and he has not a right to one minute of my time, only by my permission. I have a right to walk into his garden and take his increase. ...

[His diary for that day reads is charactistic of others who enter into plural marriage, with no explicit reference to the marriage: "5 To [on] the 5 I took steam boat fore Quincy in company with my wife, Elder Babbit and wife. Crost over to Mont Rose [Montrose, Iowa], and went bord of St. Croix.]

I confess I cannot make up my mind to appoint the young son of Hyrum G. Smith to become our Presiding Patriarch. I think there is a great deal of comment among the people as to why we cannot decide on a man to fill this position. I have read again what the brethren of the Twelve say in their report on the matter, but my spirit is not free regarding Hyrum G. Smith's son. I really feel in my heart that he is not the right man. I am sure if he were that the Lord would give me the impression in his favor. The impression to me every time that I think of it is that he hardly fills the bill'in fact does not anywhere near do so'and when I ask myself the question, 'Shall I recommend him; we might just as well call him now as wait for the next conference,' the impression to me is, no.

The impression to choose Willard Smith, my son-in-law, so far as his great ability is concerned, his humility, his knowledge, his force of character, is yes, every time I think of it. But on the other hand I am perfectly willing to keep him where he is, because he is working for a great bank. ... and the fact that he is my son-in-law might handicap him if he were called to be the Presiding Patriarch.

Then I go to President Smith's family, and his grandson [i.e., Joseph F. Smith], the son of Hyrum M., is an outstanding young man, a splendid man, very much like his father, the same forceful character as his grandfather, inclined to be a little harsh in his talk sometimes ...

I do feel almost impressed that when you come home next time we must come to a decision about the Presiding Patriarch, the three of us, and tell the quorum of the Twelve what to do. If we finally decide, after prayer and fasting, to appoint Hyrum G. Smith's boy, it will be all well and good, but if not, and we do not decide on someone else instead, in that case I am going to wait until another conference.

[Source: Heber J. Grant, Letter to J. Reuben Clark, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

Referring to yours of the 1st inst., recommending Sister Harriet B. Rowberry for second

anointing, we would say that a woman cannot receive those blessings except in connection with her husband; and a man so indifferent to the ordinances of the House of the Lord as to neglect doing his own temple work in his lifetime, although, as you say, he might have done so had he been so inclined, can scarcely be considered worthy of second anointing and we do not see how you can consistently recommend him to receive those blessings.

For these reasons we have withheld your endorsement from the recommend sent by you in favor of Sister Rowberry.

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] I confessed to [a friend] that I felt that I had been neglectful of my duty as an apostle in the past and had devoted too much time to business affairs. I had deceived myself into feeling that I was doing my full duty because I attended as many if not more meetings in the different wards and stakes of Zion than any of the other members of my Quorum, except Francis M. Lyman. I explained that when I was chosen to be an apostle seventeen years ago to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Orson Pratt that I had not been impressed with the great labors which Brother Pratt had accomplished. He had died leaving his family destitute.

[Brigham Young Sermon] ... The spirit world will be just as natural to us when we are there as this world is to us. If you grieve the spirit of a man it operates upon the body, and thus sickness and emaciation is produced. ... Our religion makes the whole world our enemies, but the time has come as the Savior observed, '"Let him who hath no sword sell his coat and buy one.'" and if we had not been able to help ourselves we should have been over-run with the enemies of this work. I told the mob that I was not as good a man as Joseph Smith and I would send to hell cross lots anyone that would attempt my life. I expect to see the time that the nations will have to come to me to get succor, for they will be in trouble. I had a dream I saw a mob, and I told them my bones ached to use them up, and that I would not have a thread of them. -- Salt Lake City

[Hosea Stout] Nov 4 M. Today was the Presidential election and the brethren all concluded to vote for Polk and Dallas for President and Vice President of the United States however, it was with peculiar feelings that I went to the polls. I thought of the man whom we had elected as the man of our choice for president of the United States: our Beloved Prophet Joseph Smith whose voice seemed yet to sound in the air, teaching this nation the way they might be saved and the means to pursue to avoid a disunion and overthrow of our Government. ...

A letter was read from President Thomas E. McKay of the Swiss and German Mission, in which he speaks of the persecution and banishment of six elders from Berlin [Germany]. ...

Letters were read from Elders C. Fred Wilcox and Joseph Kuntz, missionaries in Switzerland, addressed to Elder James E. Talmage, in which reference is made to a probable opportunity of introducing the gospel into Russia. ...

[Apostle George Albert Smith] - left SLC for St. George to rest, and "I remained in bed until about the 1st of May when I had my clothes brought to me and dressed for the first time in over five months. ...I had two or three bad sinking spells and was so weak at times that the exertion of arranging my bed clothes would cause a nervous chill." -returned to SLC ca May 8th, 1910